BY the third festival the punters knew what to expect with excitement levels high as the Eurofighter Typhoon and new attraction the F-16 gave a preview flypast on Wednesday.
More than 1 million people were expected across the four days, and for the first time ever, there was a dusk display on Thursday night.
But in the end, 2010 was the year that wasn't - heavy rains and an extremely low cloud base put paid to many of the displays, with Saturday's flying called off completely.
Thursday, traditionally the quietest day of the festival, turned out to be the only day everything flew as planned. The Vulcan performed a surprise flypast, to the delight of the crowds.
The Dutch F-16 fighter jet, in its eye-catching 'oranje' colours, boomed its way onto the seafront and took the crowd's breath away.
The F-16 let off smoke and flares during its display to truly dazzle all of those watching, with a little bit of upside-down flying thrown in for good measure.
The rescheduling started Thursday evening, when the dusk display kicked off fifteen minutes early - to the dismay of visitors who missed the Red Devils parachute team.
Friday saw the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight steal the show, despite the challenging weather conditions. Seventy years on from the Battle of Britain, these "grand old ladies of the air cruised past the crowds who rewarded them with clapping and cheers. They pulled a few, gentle moves, before the Lancaster retreated to allow visitors to hear the sound that saved the nation; the unmistakable roar of the lone Spitfire." (You can read more of Faith Eckersall's poetic report here)
The Red Arrows managed their only, low level, display of the festival.
Saturday dawned dark and grey. Flights were postponed and postponed and eventually cancelled. Only the Black Cats took to the air in the end, with a cloud base of below 600ft making it too dangerous for the pilots to fly.
And on Sunday it was only the Miss Demeanour, Vulcan, Typhoon and F-16 that could fly, despite optimism that the weather had changed. But it was all smiles on Monday, when the return of the festival was confirmed for the next three years.
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